Corniche Ouest: The City of Dakar and BAL inaugurate a brand new pitch

Community basketball is gaining ground in the Senegalese capital. As part of their partnership to promote sport and develop local talent, the City of Dakar and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) inaugurated the Corniche Ouest basketball court on Saturday, October 24th. Located in an exceptional setting near one of the capital's iconic landmarks, this facility aims to become a true hub for meeting, sharing, and personal growth for young people, families, and the entire basketball community.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the mayor of Dakar, Abass Fall, the president of the BAL, Amadou Gallo Fall, the former secretary general of FIFA, Fatma Samoura, and several personalities from Senegalese basketball.

21 local sports fields currently under construction in Dakar

Speaking at the ceremony, the Mayor of Dakar praised the initiative, which he said went far beyond simply providing a sports infrastructure.

Abass Fall announced that the City is investing heavily in grassroots sports, with 21 fields currently under construction and being developed throughout the capital. An agreement has been signed with the BAL (Banque Algiers Algiers) to combine infrastructure and technical support.

He also stressed the need to ensure the long-term viability of these infrastructures so that they can benefit future generations. "Maintenance is a shared responsibility. It's not just the business of government officials or investors, it's everyone's business. I insist that this gem be well-maintained and that it serve many generations," he declared, calling on young people and local residents to preserve this new space.

A partnership to develop African basketball

Speaking at the event, the president of the Basketball Africa League, Amadou Gallo Fall, emphasized the importance of this partnership with the Dakar municipality, which constitutes a concrete commitment to the development of African basketball.

He noted that the inauguration of this field is part of a series of activities carried out jointly with the City of Dakar. "The inauguration of this field is part of a series of activities within our partnership. At the end of August, we organized the BAL festival with the City of Dakar at the African Renaissance Monument, which attracted 12,000 spectators," he recalled.

For the president of the BAL, neighborhood courts play a crucial role in the development of future champions. "All the great basketball stories began on neighborhood courts, whether it's LeBron James, Allen Iverson, or here in Africa, Jean-Jacques Boissy or Boubacar Aw. Talent exists everywhere in Africa, it just doesn't always have access to the infrastructure," he emphasized.

The challenge, according to him, lies in enabling young Africans to benefit from suitable infrastructure and quality guidance to fully express their potential. "These young Africans are talented; they just need to be guided to express their talent," he argued.

Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games : a call for collective mobilization

Beyond the inauguration of the field, the two officials also discussed the efforts undertaken to improve the urban and sporting environment of the capital, with a view to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Abass Fall assured that the City of Dakar had contributed to the beautification and lighting projects, in collaboration with the State of Senegal. He called for collective mobilization to make this event a success and ensure its lasting place in the nation's sporting history.

The mayor also stressed that sport contributes to cultural activity and the dynamism of neighborhoods, by promoting encounters and uniting communities around common projects.

Amadou Gallo Fall, for his part, advocated for a mobilization around the essentials and for the continuation of partnerships aimed at strengthening infrastructure.

Through this new court, the City of Dakar and the BAL intend to make basketball a tool for social inclusion, youth development and community development.